When faced with fear, I want to run. I want to hide. I want to pull the blankets over my head and hold my breath until it passes. I try to numb the sensation of fear; drown out its overwhelming voice.

But I can’t.

I turn and face the fear, greet it, look at it full in the face and say, “I know you are there.” This action alone affords tremendous relief. It quells that…

My name used to be Fear.

I walked it, wore it, smelled of it, took it on as myself. I moved through life with hands held up as fists, swinging in the dark with teeth clenched and eyes narrowed. It was my way through. It was how I made it through.

But I didn’t move. I stood still, paralyzed with shame. I was ashamed of what I did, what I was, the words I spoke. And that instant was frozen in time, lived over and over again. It was all I knew…the guilt, the pain. It was all I…

I’ve never been to Boston. I’ve never seen its sights, soaked in the history, walked its streets. I’ve always wanted to, but haven’t yet. And hearing the news yesterday didn’t make me want to stay away, it made me sad, but it didn’t make me afraid.

“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” Albert Einstein

And make no mistake, the events at yesterday’s Boston Marathon started with a thought of fear.…

Sometimes I miss my old life. I was breathless, unaware and new. I was forever looking forward, hopeful. I believed in the power of romantic love…that two people can do anything if they commit to love one another forever.

I don’t live there anymore. But sometimes, I miss it.

My teens and twenties were filled up with fantasies that someone (my boyfriend) would complete me. He’d adore me, lavish me with gifts, we’d get married, have babies, I’d be thinner and life would be…

This is where the faith comes in.

In the cackling whispers of doubt

where all you do is dumb, dim, fruitless.

You can do this.

You can loosen your grip,

and you won’t trip.

We won’t let you.

This is where the faith comes in.

When the path ahead is shapeless shadows,

and every move you make is quick, sharp, breathless.

You can do this.

You can put your hand to your heart;

you can start.

We’re here with…

Original Post.

One of my ego’s favorite ways to hook my attention has been through fears of sickness. Worrying about the health of my body has been an ego pattern that has accompanied me throughout most of my life. “The god of sickness” (which the Course says is really a belief in nothing) is something that I’ve chased and looked for my…

The noise in my head is simply the rumblings of what I imagine other people think of me. And only I can shut that out. Only I can take that long, lost breath and choose again.

Again. It’s getting better. The conversations that used to tighten me up and set my mind a-racing are being met with calm, open ears and soft, gentle words. I can listen and love you at the same time. You’re me. I can see that.

You are me and we are in this together. And together we cannot fail. It’s not…

I think this is how it will go for me: love people as they are and then love everything as it is. This is what my Teacher seems to be teaching.

And it’s not easy when you’re used to control. It’s always been a false kind of control, of course, but then it’s all I’ve ever known. Chaos is the enemy, tantrums and action the only solutions. Until now.

I have met with Something much more powerful. It uses peace and compassion as its only weapons. I laughed at first and It only…

Come to me with secrets, with quiet guilty whispers,

head hung low, shuffling feet.

Come to me with stifled sobs, with naked shame,

and white teeth that bite your bottom lip.

Come to me.

Sweep your hair from your eyes,

steeple your hands in request.

Be willing.

Straighten your spine,

draw in a cleansing breath.

Be willing.

I cannot help you if you think we’re different.

You will not listen if  you see us as…

This past month I got to read May Cause Miracles, the latest book by Gabrielle Bernstein. And it’s good…really, really good.

You see, like Gabby, I am a student of A Course in Miracles. I am committed to a daily practice of love and forgiveness for myself and everyone I meet. It ain’t easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. This work lights me up, makes me breathe a little deeper and spurs me on to spread the word!

The subtitle of May Cause Miracles is: A 40-Day Guidebook…

Proof of Heaven—do not let the title fool you that this is a Christian tome about streets of gold and pearly gates. Eben Alexander, M.D., a well-respected neurosurgeon, saw many medical cases in which patients claimed to have seen deceased loved ones or heaven. He dismissed them all as chemical processes in the brain—until he had his own near-death experience while in a seven-day coma. Alexander states that while in his coma his neo-cortex was non-functional. The only thing keeping…

My heart clutched with horror and grief when I heard about the Connecticut school shooting. I ached for the parents who lost their children, but, unable to tolerate that level of pain, I immediately surged forth with rage at political and societal factors I believed caused this tragic incident. I had plans to attend a Christmas gathering the next day and many of the attendees were of a different political persuasion than me. I found myself attacking them in my head. I hope one…

Slowly, slowly I am leaving pain behind. Knowing, knowing it was always in my mind.

Last night I attended my 12-Step meeting. I had not been in a long time, but a client cancelled and I took it as a sign to get myself there, sit down and listen. It was powerful and moving. We were a room full of people in various stages of recovery. We felt broken, unwell, hopeful and content. It was mish mash of emotion and I soaked it all in.

At one point or another I have been where everyone…

Hello everyone. My name is Dalton. I joined miracleshare because I wanted to share my experiences with acim and to have someone to talk to about it. There is no one in my "personal life" to really share it with or even discuss. I'm sure if you shouted "A COURSE IN MIRACLES!" in a crowded place anywhere in the world you would be lucky to have even one person know what you're talking about.…

And you cannot be anything but safe.

It is who you are.

And who you are beats strong and true

in, above and below the waves

of fear.

You are here.

You are near.

Though I cannot hear your voice,

my heart hears more.

Beyond the door

we are one.

In the suffering, the loss, the…

The calm is coming back…

I had been tense, on edge, impatient. I had peace too long I think. And when you have peace too long, it can be tempting to let the darkness creep back. Just to see. Just to see if it’s still there.

Well, it is as long as I believe that it is. And apparently I still believe that it is.

But I feel the clouds parting and the calm coming back. And the trick will be to forgive myself for forgetting again. I forgot myself. For a moment there, I lost…

Just for today I will commit to FUN…to laughter, to turning my face to the sun.

Just for today I will let go…I will breathe deeply, allow and flow.

Just for today I will see love in all…in the grace of a moment, the rise and the fall.

Just for today I will forgive…I will be a witness, I will live and let live.

And I will bring with me nothing but a willingness to see…surrender all I think that I need.

Just for today.

A way

To…

I have no freaking clue. That’s why I’m asking you.

Anyway, I’m asking because there are times I feel like I’m playing make-believe. And at some level I know that I am. From A Course in Miracles perspective it’s all make-believe, but because I think that I’m here and that I’ve written a book, I’ll go on.

I feel unworthy. Like whoa. Who the heck am I to think I can just waltz into some contest and write a novel? And then get it published?…

This past year and a half has been tough. My husband and I have been to hell and back. We’re still making random visits…

I won’t get into the nitty gritty at this point. Suffice it to say it has been the most difficult period of my life. I’m pretty sure Michael would say the same. At certain points we’ve lived moment to moment…day to day…week to week. We’ve survived.

There have been times when we have both wanted to walk away, to give in, to say goodbye. We’re still…